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As many as 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. It’s not surprising that 10 to 20 percent of adults use over-the-counter sleep aids.

While these medications may be easy to purchase, Arun Agarwal, MD, FCCP, FAASM, Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Putnam Hospital Center, warns that not only do these drugs fail to permanently correct the problem, they often cause unwanted side effects.

“Poor sleep is just like any other medical disorder,” Dr. Agarwal says. “The first step should be getting a proper diagnosis from a medical professional who can guide you to interventions designed to correct the underlying cause with a goal of lasting relief.”

Dr. Agarwal is able to help many patients by recommending good sleep hygiene—a set of habits designed to help you fall and stay asleep. They include: